I Raised the Demon Queen (Now She Won't Leave Me Alone)

Ashvale's central plaza wasn't exactly the capital of excitement.

Unless, of course, you counted the annual cabbage-throwing competition or that time Farmer Hargel's goat ate a cursed scroll and became the region's only juggling livestock. (The goat still performed twice a week outside the pub, charging half a copper per show.)

So yes—boring. Predictably, wonderfully boring.

That was precisely why Elias had brought Rhea here.

It was safe. Familiar. The kind of place where nothing caught fire unless planned and authorized by the Fire Mage's Guild. And after everything that had happened in the past week, Elias thought Rhea could use a calm stroll among potion vendors, wool merchants, and disgruntled bard apprentices.

"Do not lick the crystal."

"But it sparkles like candy!"

"That's because it's dangerous!"

Rhea stood on her tiptoes, fingers inches from a shimmering blue gem at the alchemist's booth. Her cloak was too big for her, the hood bobbing as she tilted her head with deep, scientific interest—by which she meant: Can I eat it?

Elias dragged her back gently by the collar. "Rhea, please. For the love of all that's magically regulated, don't eat the mana-stabilized crystal."

Rhea pouted. "But if it's stabilized, it won't explode, right?"